Episode 2 - the Family
The group ignored the please wait to be seated sign and slid into a booth. Jay passed menus around that he pilfered from the host stand.
Delgado yelled at a rumpled waitress with ratty brown hair and a stained skirt, “Hey sweetie, how ‘bout taking our order?”
The waitress slowly made her way over to the table. “I’m not your sweetie. Who sat you guys?”
“Not yet, but who knows? I like watching you move in that skirt,” Delgado stated. The rest of the group stared at their menu trying not to guffaw.
The waitress laughed, “Yeah, whatever... What do you guys want?”
Everyone noticed her eyes were on Delgado and she kept twirling her hair as she took the order. Delgado constantly complimented her on her hands, her eyes, and even her hair. She even giggled at one point. When she finished taking orders he wolf whistled when she walked away.
“Jesus D. that’s just sad,” Cooper started. “At first, it was kind of funny, but now you have taken it too far. I mean that girl is plain at best and here you are all over her.”
“Don’t kid yourself Coop,” Jay stated, “When the big man comes over to my place the fish stop moving. D. will f*** anything that moves.”
“Hey, I’m getting her number. I guarantee you that,” Delgado stated with defensive pride.
Cooper rolled his eyes and said, “So what. I’m going home tonight to rub one out and you don’t hear me bragging.”
Steve put his finger to his lips and said in a much lower tone, “Look who is at her other table.”
Jay craned his neck to see a middle-aged man dressed in a beautiful Italian suit. “What’s he doing here?”
“Who is it?” Cooper asked.
“Frances Vitale,” Jay answered.
“Oh, the Hammer,” Cooper added in mock fear. “So what, he’s just eating like us.”
“Steve can you see who he is with?” Jay asked.
“Nah, his back is to me,” Steve answered.
“Is he still a Captain with Giordano?” Delgado asked.
“Keep your voice down D. Yeah he’s still a Captain,” Jay answered. “Delgado, your new girlfriend may come in handy here. Go up to her while she’s at the table and ask if you can have her number. See who is sitting with the Hammer.”
Delgado rose from the booth immediately.
“Why do we care?” Cooper asked.
“It may have an impact on our next project,” Jay answered.
“No way. If we cross the family, you can count me out,” Steve stated.
“La Cosa Nostra, the very name inspires fear,” Cooper said in his best Bill Kurtis voice.
“Just chill out,” Jay began, “Nothing to worry about Steve.”
Delgado had made his way over to the waitress and she quickly scribbled something out on a piece of paper. He smiled and headed back to the table.
“Who is it?” Steve asked.
“Don’t know him. Weird frizzy hair though – red with gray streaks,” Delgado answered.
“Glasses?” Steve asked.
“Yeah small wire jobs,” Delgado answered.
“You know him?” Cooper asked.
“Antonio Polizzi,” Steve answered.
“Never heard of him,” Jay commented.
“Detroit family,” Steve stated. “The St. Louis and Detroit connection goes way back in this town. Mostly labor, and loans to those who are less than qualified for conventional mortgages.”
The waitress came back to the table. There was a noticeable hop in her step. She passed food around as Delgado made small talk with her.
“Miss, I would like to buy breakfast for those men in that table over there,” Steve said motioning over to Vitale’s booth. He passed the waitress a $50 bill, and told her to keep the change.
“Steve, they are just drinking f****** coffee,” Delado protested.
“I don’t care and if we need clearance for this next job we might as well get it now,” Steve stated.
“Who said anything about needing clearance?” Jay asked. “Now he’s going to come over here.”
“That’s right. So what’s going down?” Steve asked.
“I have an insider with the security company that makes pick ups over at the Casino Queen. Saturday night they are having a promotion and the deposit goes out Sunday morning. It’s huge.”
“So what’s his cut?” Cooper asked.
“That’s the beauty of it, they have the caper planned. We just have to swoop in and pick up the benefits,” Jay answered.
“But you want to know if the perps are connected…” Steve mused.
“Exactly, but I certainly don’t want to bug one of their labor bosses about it,” Jay replied.
“I wish I would have known that before,” Steve said.
“I know, just tell them you paid for the meal out of respect,” Jay offered.
“And then kiss his ring and pledge your loyalty,” Cooper added in a low, gravelly, Marlon Brando voice.
“Coffee,” Delgado corrected. “Here they come.”
The Hammer strode towards their table. “Well, hello fellas, thanks for the coffee. I’m glad to see you Davis I need a word.”
Steve slipped out of the booth and walked over to the Hammer’s table. The Hammer introduced Polizzi as Mr. Polk and they sat down together.
“Steve Mr. Polk here is a good friend so you can be open here,” the Hammer began. “It’s about Sid.”
“You know I don’t approve of him,” Steve stated.
“Of course, of course, but Steve we can only pick our friends not our family. I regret to tell you, Sid’s in deep.”
“I’m not surprised,” Steve answered.
“Steve, he’s in for 30 g’s,” the Hammer stated with a raised eyebrow.
“Why would you extend him that kind of credit? I mean, you know your business, but 30 g’s? You know he’s a minor league drug pusher? He does not have that kind of money,” Steve said.
“The thing is my friend, some mistakes were made. You see your sister vouched for him on the first ten and then he dropped your name for the rest,” the Hammer paused and took out a cigarette.
“Hammer, I do not have that kind of money and he had no right…”
The Hammer held up a palm to interrupt Steve, “Look, I know he’s a scumbag and my guy should not have taken his word. So here’s what it is, I need the 10 gs your sister vouched for…”
“Absolutely,” Steve answered quickly.
“And we’ll forget about the rest. Maybe you can do me a friendly favor sometime,” the Hammer smiled slightly after the last comment. “Who knows, maybe Sid has some of the money.”
“I doubt that,” Steve answered meekly. His head was pounding. It was the first time he had been screwed by a guy that was already dead. “When do you need the money V.?”
“Steve, Steve, I’m in no rush. You just found out about this I assume. Let’s say in the next couple of weeks. Will that work for you?”
“Sure. I appreciate it V., take care,” Steve said. He rose from the seat and exchanged parting pleasantries with Polizzi. He walked slowly back to the table.
“Well?” Cooper asked.
“Not here. Let’s go,” Steve answered.
…..
“I’m going to Lucy’s. Delgado you can take the car after you drop these guys off,” Steve instructed.
“Well?” Cooper asked again.
“Sid was into them for 30 g’s. He used my name,” Steve finally answered.
“I can get it for you Steve. How long you got? 24?” Jay asked.
“Nah. Nothing like that. He only wants ten, and he said sometime in the next couple of weeks,” Steve answered.
“He only wants ten?” Cooper asked incredulous.
“Yeah, he knows his boys blew it. They should never have been in a dope fiend for 30 g’s. When are we meeting Jay?”
“Let’s meet at Rigazzi’s on the Hill at 7:00 PM,” Jay answered.
“Pretty early,” Cooper commented.
“We got a lot to cover,” Jay replied.
Steve got out of the Caddy at Lucy’s and walked slowly to his sister’s front door.
